Work No Longer a ‘Destination’ in Pandemic’s ‘New Normal,’ Says Dell COO

Consumer revenue at Dell Technologies for Q1 ended May 1 was down 5%, “as we shifted supply to direct from retail” with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Chief Financial Officer Tom Sweet on a Thursday investor call. Dell’s consumer-direct orders were up nearly 40% in the quarter, while consumer retail orders were down 37%, he said. April visits to Dell’s online store were up 77% from a year earlier, “driven largely by interest in remote work offerings,” said Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke. In the “new normal,” society is realizing “that work isn't a destination, rather it's something many of us can do anywhere, anytime,” he said. “We are solving customer issues remotely with great success.” The stock closed 8.9% higher Friday at $49.64.